Folding cardboard box and fasteners therefor



April 1, 1958 J, o. FRIZZELL 2,828,905

FOLDING CARDBOARD BOX AND FASTENERS THEREFOR Filed June 25, 1956 v James 0. Frizze/l I INVENTOR.

United States Patent 0 FOLDING CARDBOARD BOX AND FASTENERS THEREFOR James O. Frizzell, Weslaco, Tex., assignor of ten percent to R. A. Dennison, Weslaco, Tex.

Application June 25, 1956, Serial No. 593,460

4 Claims. (Cl. 229-45) The present invention relates to aknockdown or folding cardboard or an equivalent box andnovel fastening means for the component portions thereof, whereby when said portions are properly disposed in box-forming relationship a satisfactory commodity containing andshipping box is had.

As is perhaps evident from the foregoing generalstatement of the nature of the subject matter of the invention, novelty is predicated on the box, as such, Whether folded or erected for use, the retaining and fastening means in conjunction therewith, and the fastening means by itself.

it will help in presenting the disclosure here to categorize the box as a so-c'alled lettuce packaging and transporting box. This is a cardboard box in which the framelike body is provided with transverse end flaps and longitudinal companion fiaps which provide a construction which is put up in flat ready-to-use form for compactness and convenience in shipping and handling and is" later erected with the parts stapled to provide the finished rendy-to-ship box.

As is well known countless boxes are in use and the one which is herein disclosed is basically similar but is improved structurally so that by adding thereto novel fasteners or fastening means, the thus adapted box becomes a worthy and significant addition to the art.

The boxes which are currently in use require the utilization of staples which in turn make it necessary to employ a power stapling machine. This requires sending a power unit, generally a gasoline driven motor on the back of a truck, to the fields, where the staples are applied. As is well-known, machines in this category often get clogged up for heads of lettuce do not fit tight against the top and bottom forming flaps and in some instances the staples go through the flaps on the bottom side and so on. In fact, it often happens that when little pressure is applied to the box where it is stacked or handled the staples often pull out and the box comes open. If it is later on necessary to open the box to inspect the contents at least eight staples have to be pulled out and this often results in tearing the box and having a power stapler handy to replace the staples after the contents are inspected.

In carrying out the principles of the instant invention certain fairly nominal provisions in what is otherwise the conventional type cardboard folding box are necessary. To this end the instant concept makes it possible to take care of these box modifications with present day box manufacturing machines and this is, of course, an achievement which more likely than not will justify manufacturers and retailers in endorsing the invention herein under consideration.

Then, too, novelty is predicated on the utilization of practical, economical and easy-to-produce fasteners. Each fastener is a relatively narrow lightweight metal strap which is sufficiently rigid and which has hooks on the ends of its arm portions and has its central portion fashioned into a T-shaped key.

Other objects, features and advantages will become 2,828,905 Patented Apr. 1, 1958 2 more readily apparent front the following description and the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the improvedbox and strapping and fastening meanstherefor.

Fig. 2 is afragmentary perspective view showing the cooperating flap portions open and denoting the readyto-use position of the flap bracing and fastening means.

Fig. 3 is a similar fragmentary-perspective view with the flaps closed and the fastening means partly anchored in place.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4--4- of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the'arrows;

Referring now to the dra-wingsthe frame-like body portion of the'box is denoted by the numeral 6 and includes longitudinal flat sidewalls 8'hingedly connected by transverse end walls-10. The lengthwise bottom flaps (Fig. 4) are foldably or hingedly connected to the lower portions of the side walls and are denoted by the numerals 12. The transverse flaps, which are connected to the lower portions of the transverse end walls 10, are denoted by the numerals 14, andthese flaps are overlapped with the shorter or smaller flaps 14 tucked in between and held in place by the longer flaps 12.

The top of the box is the same in construction and it will therefore be evident that the lengthwise outer flaps carried by the walls 8 are denoted' by the numerals 16 and the shorter transverse flaps by the numerals 18.- The adjacent lengthwise free edges of the flaps 16 are spaced apart as at 20 to'provide an intervening constantly open slot 22. In carrying out-the principles of the present invention the walls and flaps are slightly modified. That is to say, the edge portions 24 of the end flaps are each formed with a keeper slot 26 having an entrance slit or mouth portion 28 leading therefrom and opening through said edge 24. Also, the respective end portions of the longitudinal side walls 8 have rectangular anchor holes which are formed therein and conveniently denoted by the numerals 30. As each end construction (both top and bottom of the box) is the same and as each fastener device is the same a description of one end portion (as shown in Figures 2 and 3) will suffice, it is believed, to give the reader a clear understanding of what is in volved. In actual practice, however, four of these fastenings devices or stays are actually used. Each stay is denoted by the numeral 31 and is formed from a length of substantially rigid strap metal, the intermediate portion of which is bent upon itself to provide a substantially T-shaped key or keying head 32. The stem of the head is denoted at 34 and the head itself by the numeral 36. This provides an ideal hold-down key which cooperates with the slit and slot means 26 and 28 in the end flap 18 in an obvious manner. That is to say, it is slid into the slot means and temporarily attaches the stay member 31 in place. The bendable slightly diverging arm portions or limbs are denoted by the numerals 38 and these are the same in construction and each terminates at its outer or free end in a laterally bent terminal which may be described as a hook 40 and this is obviously intended to register with the hole 30 after which it is clinched in place by a pair of pliers or the like (not shown).

These metal straps 31 can be purchased at a very nominal cost. The bottom two straps can be put in the box in the field, and after the box is filled any inexperienced laborer can slip said strap, T-head down, under the lower flap, close the two outer flaps down, pull the straps apart and clench the ends in the upper edges of the box cut away for that purpose. This will eliminate a lot of labor and work in this area, and at the same time will make a much stronger box than one that has to be stapled. It will also allow the boxes to be re-used and possibly the stays or straps 31 can be re-used.

It will be understood from the disclosure that the invention has to do with a cardboard or equivalent box whether folding or not and which might have a one-piece imperforate bottom with the flap construction only at the top or vice versa. It will be evident too that insofar as the concept is concerned a single fastening device or stay 31 is to be taken into account. The claims are to be construed accordingly.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A box construction comprising a body having bottom, side and end walls, a top embodying cooperating overlapping lengthwise and transverse flaps, an edge portion of said transverse flaps having a keeper slot therein and a slit extending from said slot through the edge of the flap and said slotted flap underlying the end portions of the lengthwise flaps, a stay embodying a strap member having a substantially T-shaped key and said key being removably anchored in said keeper slot, and said strap member having arms extending outwardly from the T-shaped key and superimposed upon the top surfaces of said lengthwise flaps and the outer ends of said arms having means detachably connected with the upper portions of said side walls of said box.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 and wherein said side walls are provided with holes and the adjacent end portions of said arms have turned-in hooks which are clinched tightly and anchored in said holes.

3. A box comprising a body having bottom, end and side walls, a top wall, said top wall embodying a pair of complemental coplanar lengthwise flaps hingedly joined along their outwardly disposed longitudinal edges to the upper edges of their respective side walls, the inner 1ongitudinal edges of the lengthwise flaps being spaced apart slightly, the upper end portion of at least one of the trans verse end walls being provided with a turned in flap underlying the respective end portions of the lengthwise flaps, an edge portion of said transverse flap having a keeper slot aligned with the space existing between the inner longitudinal edges of the lengthwise flaps, and a fastener and retainer, for said flaps comprising a strap member extending transversely across and superimposed upon the top surfaces of said lengthwise flaps and having turned in hooks at its ends which are downbent and are removably fitted and clenched in holes provided therefor in the upper portions of the respective side walls, the median portion of said strap having means fitting releasably into said keeper slot.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 and wherein the free edge of the transverse flap is provided with a slit which extends through the edge and to and communicates with said slot, the means on said strap comprising an inverted T-shaped head having its shank portion depending through the space between the longitudinal edges of the lengthwise flaps and passing downwardly through the keeper slot with the head forming keying means which is cooperable with said slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 634,115 Lambert Oct. 3, 1899 1,658,529 Kimball Feb. 7, 1928 1,809,994 Templeton June 16, 1931 2,133,590 Stopper Oct. 18, 1938 2,463,306 Potts Mar. 1, I939 

